Fountain syringe



April 5, 1955 M. VRANA ETAL 2,705,495

FOUNTAIN SYRINGE Filed OCT.. 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 5, 1955 M. VRANA ETAL 2,705,495

FOUNTAIN SYRINGE Filed Oct. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CMQ April 5, l955 M. VRANA ET Al. 2,705,495

FOUNTAIN SYRINGE Filed oct. 5, 1953 United States Patent() FOUNTAIN SYRINGE Mary Vrana, Elizabeth May Vrana, and Charles Vrana, Paterson, N. J.

Application October 5, 1953, Serial No. 384,108

20 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 229) This invention relates to fountain syringes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fountain syringe adapted for vaginal and rectal use which may be readily clamped onto a water bowl or over a conventional toilet seat and which permits the person to give himself an internal bath with a minimum of inconvenience. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fountain syringe of the above type which contains no exposed parts and which is entirely sanitary.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fountain syringe bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fountain syringe embodying the features of the present invention in operative position upon a toilet seat;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a longitudinal sectional view of the releasable connection between the casing and pipe of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the present invention in operative use upon a toilet bowl;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bowl clamp used with the device of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; "f

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp used in the device shown in Fig. S;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a still further modified form of the present invention;

Fig. lla is a View similar to Fig. ll but showing the bellows and supporting arm lowered;

Fig. 1lb is an end elevation of Fig. 11a but showing the bellows and supporting arm raised;

Fig. l2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. ll;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. l1;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a still further modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 14a is an interior perspective view of one of the parts of Fig. 14;

Fig. l5 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the lifting cables and mechanism in the device of Fig. 14.

Referring now to the figures and more particularly to Figs. l through 4, 10 represents a conventional toilet bowl having a raised seat 11, and adjacent to a sink 12, having a faucet 13. A nail or the like 14 is provided on the wall adjacent to bowl 10 and supports a conventional hot water bag 15. n

In the practice of my invention, a substantially U- 2,705,495 Patented Apr. 5, 1955 shaped clamp 16 of resilient metal (see also Fig. 7) is adapted to snap downwardly on to the rim of the bowl 10 at any convenient position, preferably the front, and includes an integrally formed cylindrical portion 17 into which is screw threaded a set screw 18. A rigid tube 19 having a downwardly bent portion 20 is secured across its central portion within the cylindrical portion 17 by means of set screw 18, the lower end of portion 20 extending downwardly into the bowl. The outer end of tube 19 is connected to the faucet 13 by means of flexible tubing 21, a conventional stop 22 being located on tube 21 intermediate the faucet 13 and the end of rigid tube 19 to control the flow of liquid through tube 21. A clamp bracket 23 extends downwardly from the outer end of pipe 19 and is in fixed engagement therewith, the lower ends of clamp 23 rotatably mounting a lever 24 therebetween by means of a rivet 25 (Fig. 4). The upper edge of lever 24 adjacent rivet 2S is provided with teeth 26 on which are disposed a ring 27 whereby to limit the upward movement of lever 24 in an obvious manner by adjustment of the ring 27 along the teeth 26. The upper edge of lever 24 is provided with a notch 28 freely spaced from the teeth 26 as well as an opening 29 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The lower end of the portion 20 is provided with a shoulder as at 30 and has removably connected thereto a metal casing 31 having an externally threaded neck 32 (Fig. 2a), the casing 31 being waterproof and having an open top defined by a circular flange 33. It will be noted that the flexible tube 21 extends through the rigid pipe 19, 20 to terminate within the externally threaded portion 32. A double scissors 34 is housed within the casing 31, the lowermost elements 35 and 36 thereof being pivotally connected to each other at their centers by means of a roller, not shown, the lower ends of the double elements 35 and 36 being connected by pins 37 which ride in elongated grooves 38 provided in the casing 31. A vertical groove 39 is also provided in each side of the casing 31 and serves to receive the central pin which interconnects the members 35 and 36. The uppermost elements 40 and 41 of the double scissors 34 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of elements 35 and 36 by means of rivets 42, the inner ends of the elements 40 and 41 being pivotally connected to a rubber bellows 43. The rubber bellows 43 is provided with a central bore 44 extending downwardly through the solid base thereof and which is connected to the flexible tube 21 by means of a second length of flexible tubing 45. It will be noted that the rigid pipe or tube 32 at its externally threaded upper portion is integrally formed with a wall 46 which receives the tubing 4S therethrough. An expansion spring 47 is connected at its upper end to the intersection pin of elements 35 and 36 and at its lower end to the bottom of casing 31 whereby to normally retain the double scissors 34 in a retracted position. The neck 32 of casing 31 is detachably secured to the lower end 30 of pipe 19, 20 by means of an internally threaded sleeve 32a having a shoulder 32b, as will be obvious. 'I'he pipe 21 is slip-fitted into tubing 45, which latter is rigidly held in wall 46, in a readily detachable manner, and the flat wire 51 is likewise detachable from itself (Fig. 2a) at this point permitting the device to be folded into amore compact unit for better portability or storage. Rollers 37a are provided on shafts 37 (Fig. 2) to facilitate the movement of the double scissors 34. A rubber covering 48 is snapped on to the flanged opening 33 at its outer end and at its central portion is snapped on to the top of bellows 43, preventing liquid from entering the casing 31 and contacting the interior parts. An anal nozzle 49 snaps on to the central portion of covering 48 surrounding bellows 43 and is provided with a central bore 50 communicating with the bore 44. Thus, when the faucet is turned on, water will flow through the tubing 21, upwardly into the bellows 43 and further upwardly through the bore 50 of anal nozzle 49 to flush the anal region. By means of the covering 48 and closed casing 31, the discharge liquid will drop downwardly into the bowl 10 without contacting any of the internal parts of the mechanism. The bellows 43 will prevent theanal nozzle 49 from being too rigid for the users comfort. The rectal bit 49 is, of course, interchangeable with a vaginal bit, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

As a means of adjusting the height of the bit 49 in a convenient and sanitary manner, the wall 46 within neck 32 is provided with a second opening which receives therethrough a flat wire 51 which extends through the entire length of pipe 19, 20 to exit at the upper end thereof where it is secured to the lever 24 within opening 29. The lower end of the flat wire 51 passes around a roller pin 52 where it moves around a central roller 53 to reverse its direction and to be connected to the pin 37 adjacent the roller 52. A second at wire 54 is connected to the flat wire 51 adjacent roller 53 and extends around the pin 37 remote from pin 52. Thus, upon moving the lever 24 downwardly to the dotted line position of Fig. 4, the wire 51 will be drawn upwardly and cause the lower ends of members 35 and 36 to approach each other and raise the bellows 43 and bit 49 vertically against the action of spring 47, the elastic cover 48 expanding therealong. The inward movement of the wire 51 is limited by a collar 55 which abuts the wall 46. Thus, when the lever 24 is moved downwardly, the double scissors 34 will extend the bit 49 upwardly to the usable position. The grooves 38 and 39 will guide the double scissors 34 in a horizontal and vertical direction, as will be obvious. The flat wire 51 is of resilient stock to resist wear. The flexible hose 45 will move upwardly and downwardly with bellows 43. The clamp 16 may also be applied to water bowls or the like while the faucet 13 may be substituted for by means of the hot water bottle 15. By means of the ring 27, the position of the lever 24 may be locked in an adjustable manner. When the lever 24 is released, the spring 47 will contract the bit 49 to the inoperative position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. through 10, there is shown a modified form of the present invention wherein the clamp 16a is provided with a swivel member 17a and has screw threaded therein a set screw 18a, the clamp 16,1 being adapted to be snapped onto the rim of the bowl in the same manner as the clamp 16. A tubular member 56 is secured within the swivel member 17a (Fig. 5) and terminates at its outer end in a transverse handle portion 57. The inner end of the member 56 is pivotally connected to an L-shaped bracket 58 of U- shaped cross section by means of a pin 59, the other end of bracket 58 being pivotally connected to a V-shaped element 60 by means of rivet 61. The other end of V- shaped member 60 is pivotally connected to a second L-shaped bracket 62 by means of a rivet 63, the other end of bracket 62 being pivotally connected to a second tubular member 64 by means of a rivet 65. The tubular member 64 is similarly secured within the swivel member 17a of a second spring clamp 16a. Thus, upon turning the handle 57, the V-shaped member 60 will be rotated upwardly in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 6 to a rear position for rectal use, and to a forward position for vaginal use. It will be apparent that when not in use, the tubular portions 56 and 64 may be folded inwardly against the sides of V-shaped member 64 compactly. The conically shaped spring 66 is mounted at its lower end on the central portion of element 60 (Fig. 6), an elastic hood 67 completely surrounding the spring 66 and following the contour thereof. The bottom of hood 67 is provided with an opening 68 which receives therethrough a flexible tubing 69 adapted to be connected to the faucet 13 or hot water bag 15 in a manner similar to the previous form. The tubing 69 extends upwardly to the open neck of hood 67 where it is connected to a vaginal bit 70. A conventional stop 22 will be provided in the tubing line (Fig. 5) whereby to control the flow of liquid. The vaginal bit 70 may, of course, be interchanged with the rectal bit 49. The vertical position of the bit 70 will be controlled by the handle 57, as will be obvious, The lower end of tubing 69 is connected to a second length of tubing 71 by means of a union 72, the other end of tubing 71 being connected to the faucet or hot water bag.

Referring now particularly to Figs. l1 through 13, there is shown a still further modified form of the present invention wherein a rigid pipe or tube 73 is externally threaded at its upper end and adapted to be screwed into the internally threaded, shouldered sleeve 32a which latter also engages ange 30 of rigid tube 20, the tube 20 being supported from the bowl 10 in a manner similar to the manner of the tubes 19, 20 of the first form. The lower end of tube 73 rigidly supports a bracket 76 by means of rivets 77, the bracket 76 having a horizontal portion 78 of channel shaped cross section (Fig. 12). An elastic covering 79 is secured to the tube 73 adjacent sleeve 32a and completely surrounds the bracket 76, the covering 79 having a central opening in which is positioned a bellows 43, a vaginal or rectal bit 80 being disposed within the top of bellows 43 and forming a waterproof seal with covering 79. The bellows 43 is supported upon a scissors 81 having a forward element 82 pivotally connected to an ear 83a at the base of bellows 43 by means of a pin 83, the other end of element 82 rotatably mounting a roller 84 by means of a pin 85. A pin 86a serves to mount an element 86 pivotally mounted at its lower end by means of a pin 95. The elements 82 and 86 are normally retained in the flattened position by means of an expansion spring 89 connected at its upper end to the link 86 by means of a pin 90 and connected at its lower end to the bracket 76 by means of a pin 91. The upper end of element 82 is beveled at 92 whereby to support the base of bellows 43 when in the raised position (Fig. 11). A spring 93 retains bellows 43 in a horizontal position when element 82 is lowered (Fig. 11a). Spring 94 interconnecting bellows 43 and element 86 retains the former in a horizontal position when raised (Fig. 11). As a means of raising the bit 80 against the action of the spring 89 a thin wire 96 is connected to an opening 97 in element 86 at its lower end, the wire 96 passing upwardly through an opening 98 in tubing 73 and continuing upwardly therethrough to exit at the outer end of tubing 19, 20. The wire 96 is, of course, detachable within the sleeve 32a and is connected to a lever, not shown, similar to the first form. Thus, upon movement of this lever the scissors 81 will be extended to raise the bit 80 to a usable position against the action of spring 89.

The flexible tube 99 extends upwardly through tubes 73 and 19, 20 in a manner similar to the first form, where it is connected in suitable manner to the faucet 13 or hot water bag 15, the lower end of the tube 99 being connected to the bottom of bellows 43. Thus, the syringe liquid will be supplied upwardly through the bit 80, the position of the latter being controlled by the wire 96. The discharge liquid will pass downwardly and be prevented from coming in contact with the mechanism by the waterproof covering 79 in a sanitary manner. Tube 99 is, of course, detachable from itself within sleeve 32a.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 14 through 16, there is shown a still further modified form of the invention wherein a cylindrical casing 100 having a cover 101 screwed thereon is integrally formed at the side of its upper end with an externally threaded neck 102 adapted to be screwed into the internally threaded sleeve 32a which latter also engages flange 30 of the rigid pipe 20 of the previous forms. A circular stage 103 (Fig. 16) having a cut out 104 at one side is slidably disposed in the manner of a piston within the cylindrical casing 100, the stage 103 being normally retained in the lower position by means of an expansion spring 105. A bellows 43 is mounted in an opening 106 in the center of stage 103, a flexible tubing 107 extending downwardly from bellows 43 within spring 105 where it is coiled and then is detachably connected to itself within the sleeve 32a. The tubing 107 extends upwardly through cut out 104 to exit through neck 102, the tubing 107 extending horizontally on approximate level with top of bowl 10 within the tube 19 which is provided with shoulder 30, and being connected to the faucet 13 or hot water bag 15. As a means of raising the stage 103, a pair of pulleys 108 and 109 are rotatably mounted within the upper portion of casing 100, flat wires 110 and 111 extending downwardly over pulleys 108 and 109 to be connected at their lower ends to the stage 103, the upper ends of the wires 110 and 111 being connected to a single wire 112 which extends through the neck 102 and pipe 19 where it is connected to a lever, not shown, similar to that provided in the first form, the wire 112 being detachably connected to itself within sleeve 32a. Thus, upon outward movement of wire 112, the stage 103 will be raised against the action of spring 105. A rectal or vaginal bit 113 is snapped onto the bellows 43, a flexible covering 114 completely surrounding the bit 113 and being secured intermediate the bellows 43 and the base of bit 113 (Fig. 14). The upper portion of covering 114 is secured to a ring 115 suitably mounted within the opening of the casing 100. The bit 113 is provided with a central bore 116 communieating with the bellows 43 and tube 107 held in place by clip 107a whereby to delivei water to the desired area. Thus, upon actuation of the wire 112, the cover 101 having previously been removed, the bit 113 will ride upwardly to a usable position against the action of spring 105, the bellows 43 preventing excessive rigidity.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of our invention, what is claimed is:

l. A fountain syringe comprising a bit adapted to be inserted into the region to be irrigated, means for mounting said bit within a bowl or the like, means for raising and lowering said bit, said means being controlled from outside of said bowl, means for supplying liquid through said bit, and spring means for normally retaining said bit in a retracted position.

2. A fountain syringe according to claim l, said bit and said means for raising and lowering said bit and said spring means being provided with a waterproof housing.

3. A fountain syringe according to claim 1, said means for supporting said bit within a bowl or the like comprising a clamp adapted to be snapped onto the rim of the bowl, a rigid tubing adjustably mounted on the top of said clamp, said rigid tubing extending downwardly into the bowl, a closed housing connected to the lower end of said tubing, said bit being supported at the top of said housing.

4. A fountain syringe according to claim 3, said means for raising and lowering said bit comprising a double scissors within said housing, said spring means for retaining said bit in a lowered position comprising an expansion spring connecting the central portion of said scissors with the bottom of said housing, said housing being provided with elongated horizontal and vertical slots, pins connecting the elements of said scissors, said pins riding within said horizontal and vertical slots, a central roller at the bottom of said housing, an elongated wire extending through said rigid tubing, said wire extending around said roller and being connected to the bottom of one element of said scissors, a second wire connecting the bottom of the other elements of said scissors to said first wire, and means for tensioning said wire at the outer end of said rigid pipe. n t

5. A fountain syringe according to claim 4, said last mentioned means comprising a downwardly extending bracket connected to the outer end of said rigid tube, a lever rotatable within said bracket about an axis at right angles to said rigid tube, said first wire being connected to said lever, said lever along its upper edge being provided with teeth and a ring on said teeth adjustable therealong. I

6. A fountain syringe according to claim 4, said housing having an upper opening permitting access to said double scissors and a flexible cover provided for said opening and connected to the base of said bit whereby to provide a flexible waterproof enclosure.

7. A fountain syringe according to claim 6, said means for supplying water to said bit comprising a flexible bellows connected to the bottom of said bit, said bellows being mounted within said exible cover opening, said double scissors being pivotally connected to the bottom of said bellows within said casing, and a flexible tubing extending through said rigid tubing and coiled f within said casing, said flexible tubing being connected to said bellows and a source of liquid, said bellows having an internal bore connecting said exible tubing with said bit.

8. A fountain syringe according to claim 7, said housing having a neck releasably connected to said rigid pipe, said neck having a wall, said wall having an opening receiving said exible tubing therethrough, said wall having a second opening receiving said at wire therethrough, said at wire having a stop adapted to abut the face of said wall remote from said casing, said exible tubing and wire being detachable from themselves intermediate said wall and rigid pipe.

9. A fountain syringe according to claim 1, said means for supporting said bit within the bowl comprising a pair of resilient clamps adapted to be snapped onto the rim of the bowl in oppositely disposed positions, a pair of tubular members, means for mounting each of said tubular members above one of said clamps, a handle provided on the outer end of one of said tubular members, the inner end of each of said tubular members being pivotally connected to an L-shaped member of substantially U-shaped cross section, a substantially V-shaped tubular member, the ends of said V-shaped member being pivotally connected to the other ends of said L-shaped members, a substantially conical spring mounted at its larger lower end on the central position of said V-shaped member, a exible tubing extending upwardly through said spring and connected at its upper end to the bottom of said bit and a closed flexible housing surrounding said spring and connected to said bit, said housing at the bottom thereof having an opening receiving said ilexible tubing.

l0. A fountain syringe according to claim 9, said means for raising and lowering said bit comprising said tubular member having said handle portion being rotatably mounted on the top of one of said clamps, the other of said tubular members being rotatably mounted on the other of said clamps.

1l. A fountain syringe according to claim l0, said rst and second tubular elements being rotatably mounted above each of said clamps in a substantially horizontal plane, and set screw means for locking the position of said tubular members in said horizontal plane.

12. A fountain syringe according to claim l, said means for mounting said bit within the bowl comprising a spring clamp adapted to be snapped onto the rim of the bowl, a rigid tubular member secured to the top of said clamp and extending downwardly within said bowl, an L-shaped bracket connected to the lower end of said rigid tube, said bracket having a horizontal portion of substantially U-shaped cross section, a exible bellows supporting the bottom of said bit, a double scissors supporting the bottom of said bellows upon the horizontal portion of said bracket, said double scissors including a forward element pivotally connected at its upper end to said bellows, a roller rotatably mounted at the lower end of said forward element, and a second element pivotally connected at opposite ends to said horizontal portion of said bracket and said forward element.

13. A fountain syringe according to claim 12, said means for retaining said bit in a lowered position comprising an expansion spring connected at one end to the bottom of said bracket and at the other end to said second element, said means for raising said bit comprising a wire connected at one end to said second element, said wire extending upwardly through said rigid pipe and outwardly therefrom, means at the outer end of said rigid pipe for tensioning said wire, said means including a lever pivotally mounted at the outer end of said pipe, said wire being connected to said lever.

14. A fountain syringe according to claim 13, including a exible waterproof covering connected to the lower end of said rigid pipe and completely enclosing said bellows and double scissors and sealed to the base of said bit.

l5. A fountain syringe according to claim 14, said means for supplying water to said bit comprising a flexible tubing within said covering connected to said bellows, said bellows communicating with said bit, said tubing extending upwardly through said rigid pipe and outwardly from the outer end thereof adapted to be secured to a source of liquid.

16. A fountain syringe according to claim 1, said means for mounting said bit within a bowl comprising a clamp adapted to be snapped onto the rim of the bowl, a rigid tube secured to the top of said clamp and extending horizontally within the bowl, a substantially vertical, cylindrical casing connected to the lower end of said rigid tube, a piston-like stage slidable vertically within said casing, a bellows mounted on the upper surface of said stage, said bit being mounted on the top of said bellows, said means for retaining said bit in a lowered position comprising a spring connected at its upper end to said stage and at its lower end to said casing, said means for supplying liquid to said bit comprising a flexible tubing extending downwardly through said stage and coiled within the bottom of said casing, said stage having a cut out receiving said tubing upwardly therethrough, said tubing extending outwardly from the top of said casing and continuing within said rigid pipe and extending beyond the outer end thereof to be connected to a source of liquid,

said rigid pipe and tubing being detachable from said casing to permit greater portability.

17. A fountain syringe according to claim 16, said means for raising and lowering said bit comprising a pair of pulleys within the top of said casing, a pair of Wires connected at their lower endsv to the opposite sides of said stage and passing over said pulleys, said wires being connected to a third wire, said-third wire passing outwardly through said rigid pipe means at the end of said rigidv pipe for tensioning said wire, said means including a lever pivoted at the outer end of said rigid pipe, the outer end of said third wire being connected to said lever.

18. A fountain syringe according to claim 17, said casing at the mouth thereof having a removable cover, a ring within said mouth, and a exible covering secured to said ring and extending downwardly around said bit, sealed to the base of said bit.

19. A fountain syringe according to claim 8, flexible cover being formed of rubber.

20. A fountain syringe according to claim 3, including a hollow cylindrical member secured to the top of ,said clamp and slidably receiving said rigid tubing therethrough, and set screw meansprovided in said hollow cylindrical member and adapted to engage said rigid tubing whereby to lock the same relative to said clamp.

said

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,922 Berg Nov. 27, 1928 

